The ongoing divorce saga of Hollywood icon Kevin Costner has reached new heights of turmoil, as recent filings peel back the layers of rumors surrounding his marriage to Christine Baumgartner. Amid the chaos, Costner firmly denies allegations of extramarital affairs while casting suspicions on his estranged spouse.
In a legal maneuver that has tongues wagging, lawyers representing Christine Baumgartner have formally demanded access to any documents unveiling "expenses paid by you, or any person at your request or on your behalf, relating to any extramarital romantic relationships." The plot thickens as Costner, through his legal representatives, firmly refutes any involvement in "extramarital romantic relationships," counterbalancing with a compelling twist: "[Kevin] does not for a fact know if [Christine] engaged in any 'extramarital romantic relationships' before separation and, if so, whether she spent any of his money or charged any expenses in furtherance of her affair(s) on credit cards he paid."
This legal chess match isn't just about affairs but also about the moolah. The estranged couple has been locked in a financial duel, with Christine alleging that Costner has been playing a strategic game of "withholding evidence," "stonewalling," and displaying "evasive" behavior concerning his financial details. The spotlight turns to Costner's finances, including the suspected concealment of his earnings from his tenure on the hit series Yellowstone.
Christine, celebrated handbag designer and mother of three of Costner's seven children, initiated divorce proceedings in early May, effectively ending their 18-year marital journey. The aftermath has been anything but smooth sailing, as the two tangle over the intricacies of their 2004 prenuptial agreement and the delicate topic of child support payments.
In regard to the prenup, Christine is arguing that she "felt pressured to sign the agreement because of the circumstances surrounding its execution."
"This contradicts the unambiguous language in the PMA wherein Christine represented in all caps that she 'voluntarily' and 'free from duress, fraud or undue influence' entered into the agreement," Kevin's lawyers responded, declaring that "Christine cannot have her cake and eat it too."
The legal verdict directs the actor to channel a substantial $129,755 every month in child support to Christine - a figure that falls between her ambitious demand and his counteroffer.
But that's not all the court's decree unfurls. Their prenuptial agreement, a binding contract signed prior to their union, unveils another layer of the drama. Should the couple find themselves in the throes of divorce, the prenup outlines a provision where Christine stands to receive a handsome $1.5 million payout. However, Christine could potentially relinquish this financial boon if she dares to contest the terms of the divorce settlement.
The prenup reads: "If Christine, in any manner, challenges or assists in the challenge of the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement, she shall lose any and all rights to receive any payment, Property or Interest from Kevin pursuant to this Agreement."
